Program and Theme

Monday 18
August 2025

17:15–18:00: Registration

18:00–20:00: Opening Reception
Foyer 3, Level 1, Pan Pacific Hotel; SM Engineering Excellence Award; Launch ANSM Australian National Submarine Museum
Sponsored by MacTaggart Scott Australia

Tuesday 19
August 2025 – Day 1

08:00–08:45: Registration and Coffee; Coffee Van sponsored by HTR Group

Session 1 – Plenary Session

08:45–08:50: P1-1; , Master of Ceremonies
– Call to Order, Acknowledgement of Country, Administrative Arrangements

08:50–09:00: P1-1; , President, Submarine Institute of Australia
– Welcome and Introduction of Conference Charity

09:00–09:10: P1-2; Hon Paul Papalia CSC MLA, Minister for Defence Industries; Veterans
– Ministerial Welcome and Conference Opening

09:10–09:35: P1-3; – Opening Plenary Address

09:35–10:10: P1-4; Commodore Daniel Sutherland RAN, Commander Submarine Force
– All Round Look and Submarine Rotational Force Preparations

10:10–10:15: Australian SME Spotlight: Acacia Systems

10:15–10:45: Break; Spotlight Partner: Acacia Systems

Session 2 – Plenary Session

10:45–23:05: P2-1; HE Dame Sarah MacIntosh DCMG, High Commissioner to Australia, UK Government
– Plenary Address

11:05–11:15: P2-2; Lu Zhou, Acting US Consul General in Western Australia

11:15–11:35: P2-3; , Defence Advocate for Western Australia
– Supporting Submarines in Western Australia

11:35–11:55: P2-4; VADM Jonathan Mead AO RAN, Director-General Australian Submarine AgencySA
– The AUKUS Endeavour, its Rationale and Progress

11:55–12:15: P2-5; Celia Perkins, Deputy Secretary Security and Estate Group
– Delivery of Submarine Rotational Force West Priority Infrastructure

12:15–12:20: Australian SME Spotlight: Jenkins Engineering Defence Systems (JEDS)

12:20–13:20: Lunch; Spotlight Partner: JEDS

Session 3 – Plenary Session

13:20–13:50: P3-1; , Nuclear Powered Submarine Working Group Manager, ANSTO
– ANSTO – A Valuable Partner in the Nuclear-Powered Submarine Enterprise

13:50–14:20: P3-2; Stuart Whiley, ASC
– Developing the Nuclear Safety Culture and Industrial Capability Needed to Deliver Australia’s Future Submarine Programs

14:20–15:20

P3-3

Social Licence – Presentations and Panel Discussion facilitated by RADM Allan du Toit:

, ANSM Research Group; Ideas and Action, Theory and Practice, Social Licence and Nuclear Submarines
, ANSM Research Group, ANU Emeritus Faculty; An Outline of the Political-Strategic World of Australia’s Future Submarines
, Chair Contemporary History, Deakin University; The people-policy nexus in Australian security policy

P3-3 Session abstracts; followed by a panel discussion:

Moderator: , PhD RAN (Rtd);
, ANSM Research Group;
, ANSM Research Group, ANU Emeritus Faculty;
, Chair Contemporary History, Deakin University

15:20–15:25: Australian SME Spotlight: PGM Environment

15:25–15:55: Break; Spotlight Partner: PGM Environment

Session 4 – Plenary Session

15:55–16:55

P4-1

Australian Submarine Agency – An Overview of the Nuclear-Powered Submarine Enterprise:

Tim Hodgson, Deputy Director General Technical, ASA; What nuclear stewardship encompasses, including ASA engagement with industry partners and stakeholders
RADM Tom Phillips RAN, Head of Nuclear Submarine Capability, ASA; The strategic rationale for AUKUS, why submarines are critical and what they mean for defence of the nation
Kate van Hilst, First Assistant Director-General SSN Construction, ASA; Opportunities for industry and progress on implementing Australia’s AUKUS Submarine Industry Strategy

ASA Facilitated Panel Discussion

Tim Hodgson, Deputy Director General Technical, ASA;
RADM Tom Phillips RAN, Head of Nuclear Submarine Capability, ASA;
Kate van Hilst, First Assistant Director-General SSN Construction, ASA

16:55–17:05: P4-2; Close of Day 1 –
, Master of Ceremonies

17:05–18:15: Break

18:15–19:00: Pre-Dinner Drinks; Sponsored by JFD

19:00–22:00: Conference Dinner; Dinner sponsored by Defence SA

Wednesday 20
August 2025 – Day 2

Session 5

Stream Blue

Infrastructure & Society

08:30–08:50: B5-1; , ANU
– Building Australia’s Nuclear Workforce: Education, Training, and the AUKUS Opportunity

08:50–09:10: B5-2; , Mott MacDonald, Divisional General Manager for Defence, Market Leader for Defence in Europe and North Africa (EUNA) & Deputy Global Defence Lead
– 'Requirements, Requirements, Requirements!'- From Design to Deployment.

09:10–09:30: B5-3; Michael Mahy DSC, Synergy Group
– AUKUS Pillar 1 – Systemic Improvements and Substantive Change to Australia's National Preparedness and Strategic Outlook.

09:30–09:50: B5-4; Warwick Carter, Perth South West Metropolitan Alliance
– AUKUS and the Community: Shaping Perth’s South-West Corridor.

09:50–10:10: B5-5; , Defence Strategic Engagement Lead – Mott MacDonald
– Driving the Narrative – Shaping Enduring Positive Public Attitudes to AUKUS.

Stream Gold

Education & Training, and Workforce

08:30–08:50: G5-1; , Strategic Partnership Manager (Nuclear Stewardship), ANU | Secretariat, Australian Nuclear Research and Education Network
– Building Australia’s Nuclear Future: The Role of the Australian Nuclear Research and Education Network (ANREN)

08:50–09:10: G5-2; , Deputy Pro Vice-Chancellor, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Curtin University
– SRF-WEST and Beyond: Building Capability in Nuclear Submarine Workforce.

09:10–09:30: G5-3; , SERCO-NA
– Lessons Learned Related to Workforce Development in America.

09:30–09:50: G5-4; Dr Matthew Brand, UNSW
– Sydney Nuclear Mindset Assurance in an Undergraduate Nuclear Engineering Program.

09:50–10:10: G5-5; , South Metropolitan TAFE
– How Western Australia's VET Sector is Equipping the Defence Industry for AUKUS and Beyond.

10:10–10:45: Break

Session 6

Stream Blue

Chair: Ashley Schneider

Industry and Supply Chain

10:45–11:05: B6-1; , Director of Supplier Quality, HII-Newport News Shipbuilding
– Shipbuilding Navigating Supplier Quality: Insights from Newport News Shipbuilding Experts for Australian Companies Entering the VCS Supply Chain.

11:05–11:25: B6-2; , ASC
– Industrial Uplift in Australia: DIVQ and How Australian Suppliers can Support AUKUS Through the Virginia Class Submarine Program in the USA.

11:25–11:45: B6-3; , RAND Corporation
– Developing the industrial Base for Nuclear Powered Submarines – Lessons from the U.S.

11:45–12:05: B6-4; Adam Falconer-West, Franmarine
– The Rise of Underwater Sustainment in the Nuclear Submarine Enterprise.

12:05–12:25: B6-5; , Chief Nuclear Officer UBH Group
– Nuclear Supply Chain Compliance and Importance to Social Licence.

Stream Gold

Safety & Technology

10:45–11:05: G6-1; Bradley Robb, ALARP
– Perspective on the Application of the Safety Case regime to Australian-Acquired Virginia Class Submarines.

11:05–11:25: G6-2; , Thornton Tomasetti
– SUBSAFE: Developing Robust Assurance Capability in Australia to support AUKUS.

11:25–11:45: G6-3; , Adjunct Lecturer in Nuclear Law, University of Adelaide | Principal, Braybon Advisory
– Igniting the Reactor Rulebook: Turbo-Charging Australia’s Nuclear Law for the SSN-AUKUS Era.

11:45–12:05: G6-4; , Managing Director and Chief Engineer DST Consulting
– Enhancements to the Collins Class Submarines Over the Next 10-15 Years.

12:05–12:25: G6-5; , MIKEL Undersea Warfare Systems
– Proposed Australia Signature Management Plan for Virginia Class Submarine.

12:25–12:30: Australian SME Spotlight: Curtin University

12:30–13:30: Lunch; Spotlight Partner: Curtin University

Session 7 – Plenary Session

13:30–14:10: P7-1; In conversation with the Michael Fitzgerald,SIA President –
Hon Richard Marles MP, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence

14:10–14:55

P7-2

ASA Uplift Initiative Program – Panel facilitated by Sarah Tartakowski, Market Access Director, ASA :